Palace At Cheltenham

It looks like an exciting day's action with four meetings taking place headlined by the first day of Cheltenham's International meeting and supported by jumps cards from Bangor and Doncaster as well as an all-weather flat card from Wolverhampton.  The flat card fails to break the £30,000 barrier with just £29,000 on offer across their seven race card.  The stable has three runners at Cheltenham; Kings Palace, Street Entertainer and Standing Ovation.  I am particularly looking forward to seeing exciting novice chaser Kings Palace who was the impressive winner of his chase debut at the track last time out when putting in a faultless round of jumping to beat Sausalito Sunrise.  He has to improve further to confirm form with that rival on these revised terms but he does look like a top class prospect.  I was going to fly up to the track with David today but there has been plenty of overnight wind and rain and I am not the bravest so have decided to give it a miss.

I thought that Rathlin Rose performed creditably yesterday in the three mile novices' hurdle at Taunton behind a useful looking winner and looks more than capable of winning something similar before too long.

I see that it is David McGreavy's 57th birthday today.  Plenty of you will be asking who David McGreavy is, but I can tell you that he is a bloodstock agent who could talk the hind legs off of a donkey.  I spent a week with him one Wednesday!  Anyway, many happy returns David.

There are sales on up at Cheltenham after the races and I know that David has been doing plenty of work on the catalogue.  I have to say that he is always very meticulous when going through the sales brochures...I really do HAVE to say that!  I am only joking of course and David will be staying up at the sales so if you have the urge to buy yourself an early Christmas present do feel free to give us a call in the office on 01884 840715.

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I see that both Spurs and Everton were beaten in the Europa League last night by 1-0.  It is hardly surprising really given that both sides played reserves in their line-up's.  If you asked any of the top Premier sides if they want to be in the Europa tournament, I reckon it would be a fairly categorical 'no'.

Can you believe it?!  West Ham's Winston Reid has missed out on being Maori Sportsman of the Year in New Zealand, being beaten by Jason Wynyard - a champion wood chopper.  As you can tell the Kiwi's love their sport!

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There was brighter news from England's cricketers as Joe Root produced an excellent knock to help them beat Sri Lanka, leaving England only 3-2 behind in the series.

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Finally, I see that 84 year old Vic Kellagher has been receiving mail for a sex change clinic with a similar address in Exeter.  I wonder if they are cross addressing?!  Have a nice day...